‘Wake-me-up tea. Great for the morning-after. Or else, young lady, you would have the morning-after to end all morning-afters.’

‘Would I?’

‘Oh yes. Tori Lancaster was in flying form last night.’

Tori groaned then took a dutiful sip. It wasn’t awful . ‘I thought you were supposed to be looking after me.’

‘I was. It’s an unwritten rule that a sleepless night is not the appropriate preparation for a long journey. You needed to forget, to sleep, to rest. You’ve done that. Now you can go.’

‘Damn. Do I have to?’

‘Yes, you do. If you want to keep your job. And if you have any bit of proper, scientific curiosity. Which I know you have. You need to get over it, Tori. Trust in the safety record of the most powerful engine ever built.’